Landscape of no-fee open access publishing in Africa
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This study provides an overview of open access (OA) journals in Africa that do not charge fees for either authors or readers (often referred to as Diamond OA journals). It is based on survey responses from 199 journals, 21 institutional, national and continental platforms that host Diamond OA journals, and 25 country reports with information about current funding and financial sustainability approaches and challenges, institutional in-kind support, incentives and collaborations among Diamond OA journals, needs and strategies to advance Diamond OA publishing.
This landscape study was conducted as a part of the three-year ‘Collaboration for sustainab…’ project (November 2023- October 2026), implemented by EIFL, AJOL (African Journals Online) and WACREN (the West and Central African Research and Education Network) with support from Wellcome. The study informed and guided us in our planning for developing and delivering a participatory funding approach to strengthen the quality and sustainability of African Diamond OA publishing while maintaining its diversity. The project will also strengthen national and regional collaboration on Diamond OA publishing and seek to secure funding commitments from African governments and institutions by embedding support for Diamond OA publishing in open science policies.